Going After Cacciato

by

Tim O’Brien

An American soldier in the Vietnam War, assigned to the same battalion as Paul Berlin. Bernie Lynn dies after going to retrieve the injured Frenchie Tucker from a tunnel, following Lieutenant Sidney Martin’s orders. Lynn is also shot by a Vietcong soldier in the tunnel, and like Tucker, he dies from his wounds later.
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Bernie Lynn Character Timeline in Going After Cacciato

The timeline below shows where the character Bernie Lynn appears in Going After Cacciato. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Storytelling Theme Icon
Vietnam and the Chaos of War Theme Icon
Discontinuity and Trauma Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
...fright in the middle of a battle, as have several others: Sidney Martin, Ready Mix, Bernie Lynn , and more. Some of the people who have survived the battle (which is, for... (full context)
Chapter 9
Vietnam and the Chaos of War Theme Icon
Discontinuity and Trauma Theme Icon
...a battle scene. Lieutenant Sidney Martin has just commanded his soldiers—who include Doc, Rudy, Stink, Bernie Lynn , and Frenchie Tucker—to clear out a tunnel, and Frenchie has been seriously injured while... (full context)
Vietnam and the Chaos of War Theme Icon
Discontinuity and Trauma Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
...he’s “going home” because of his tunnel wound. Frenchie slowly dies, and Doc turns to Bernie Lynn . Bernie is bleeding profusely, from his throat down to his chest. Seeing that Bernie... (full context)
Chapter 13
Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Storytelling Theme Icon
Obligation vs. Escape Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
...the war died almost as soon as Berlin saw them. Berlin’s mind then jumps to Bernie Lynn , who won the Silver Star for exploring a tunnel and dying. As Berlin thinks... (full context)
Chapter 14
Vietnam and the Chaos of War Theme Icon
Obligation vs. Escape Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
...a gunshot. Martin calmly says that another soldier will have to climb into the hole. Bernie Lynn volunteers to explore the hole. He climbs in, but before he’s made any progress, he’s... (full context)
Chapter 16
Vietnam and the Chaos of War Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
July turns into August, and the soldiers begin fighting with one another. Stink and Bernie Lynn have an argument about basketball, and after a few moments of shouting they begin wrestling... (full context)
Chapter 22
Obligation vs. Escape Theme Icon
Discontinuity and Trauma Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
...of his rifle, and often says that it’s his best friend. Early on, he befriends Bernie Lynn , and even writes a letter to his own sister, Carla, introducing Carla to Bernie.... (full context)
Chapter 34
Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Storytelling Theme Icon
Vietnam and the Chaos of War Theme Icon
Obligation vs. Escape Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
At the beginning of Berlin’s military service, shortly after the deaths of Frenchie Tucker and Bernie Lynn , Oscar Johnson is arguing with Sidney Martin. Martin wants to follow standard operating procedure... (full context)
Chapter 45
Vietnam and the Chaos of War Theme Icon
Obligation vs. Escape Theme Icon
Discontinuity and Trauma Theme Icon
Survival and Self-Preservation Theme Icon
...the water. He thinks about the “facts.” Buff, Ready Mix, Rudy Chassler, Pederson, Frenchie Tucker, Bernie Lynn , and Sidney Martin are all dead. (full context)